zoa prop tank lighting

[brandon0350]

i havent decided on tank size yet but my options are
48x24x12,
36x24x12
30x12x12

for all tanks i would do a tek fixture w/ 6 bulbs 4 actinic 2 daylight... or should i do 20k halide? thanks brandon

 

[Peter Eichler]

1.) A 6 bulb Tek fixture isn't really going to fit over any of the tanks you mention.

2.) That combo of bulbs isn't a very good one if you go with T5. Check the T5 thread for better combos.

3.) Lots of blue spectrum might look nice but more towards a daylight spectrum is what you'd want for a prop tank. In other words 20k MH isn't a very good idea either.

4.) 18" wide is much better for a prop tank IMO, you won't need more light and it won't take up much more space, but you'll get a lot more space for frags.

5.) Your prop tank should never be larger than your display

 

[brandon0350]

dont zoos get better coloration with a bluer spectrum. and ime they grow better with more actinic light?
why wont the 6 bulb fixture work? i had a 6 bulb fixture over a tank with a 30x30 footprint and there were no dim spots?

 

[hot4teacher]

I had seen on several sites that a 6 bulb Tek fixture was between 15" and 16". Plenty of space for the first two options. I don't think the 30x12x12 will leave much room in the future.

In the prop shop I visited in okinawa, they ran exclusively 'blue' lights...my guess 20K (actinics)...in the form of T5 and/or VHO. I thought the addage of "the bluer, the better" for zoos.

Dana

 

[BradL.]

20 K will make them appear more colorful. 65k is a more intense lighting which is what you want in a prop tank.

 

[Speckled Grouper]

48 x 18 x 12

48" 8 light fixture - AWESOME

 

[Speckled Grouper]

48 x 18 x 12 - Works well

48" 8 light fixture - AWESOME

 

[klese]

^ Nice looking setup

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8062475#post8062475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brandon0350
dont zoos get better coloration with a bluer spectrum. and ime they grow better with more actinic light?
why wont the 6 bulb fixture work? i had a 6 bulb fixture over a tank with a 30x30 footprint and there were no dim spots?

Was reading your dimensions wrong... I blame the beer and late hour Their color looks better under blue spectrum, but you'll achieve better growth under a more natural lower kelvin light with higher par.

 

[rsteagall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8064367#post8064367 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
Was reading your dimensions wrong... I blame the beer and late hour Their color looks better under blue spectrum, but you'll achieve better growth under a more natural lower kelvin light with higher par.

What is "higher par"?


Also... there still seems to be a varying opinion STILL on what light for a zoa prop tank. Has no one done a side by side comparison? 2 tanks... sharing water... one with 15k-20k only and one with 6.5k-10k only? Man... I'd love to see someone run that comparison with the same zoos in each tank for a 6 month period of time and report results.

 

[jjmcat]

Your zoas will look better under the higher kelvin lighting,but your growth rate will decline under them.I used to run a 5500k halide on my 58 gallon reef.I had awesome growth from all my corals including my zoas.I made the switch to a 14k hallide and the colors are great and also the growth has declined.Im not an expert in the reefing field but what ive said is from my own experience nothing more.